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6 <br />taken to pay for new <br />should be one of the <br />the burden of paying <br />move into the County <br />because she does not <br />She also submitted a <br />follows: <br />schools. She feels that quality education <br />County's highest priorities. She feels that <br />for new schools should be put on those who <br />Ms. Bateman supports a sliding scale <br />want to see anyone overburdened by this fee. <br />petition with 119 signatures which reads as <br />We, the undersigned support the following strategies for <br />ensuring that, future residential growth is linked to responsible <br />and timely expansion in school capacity. <br />1. The areas' school boards, school administrations, <br />and elected officials must accept mutual responsibility for joint <br />planning. <br />2. Higher revenues <br />other funding sources must be <br />3. A school impact <br />proposed developments. <br />from impact fees are needed, and <br />found . <br />study should be required for <br />4. Concurrency should be considered as an effective <br />planning tool. <br />5. Developers of sizable subdivisions could be <br />required to donate land. <br />6. Residential growth must not be allowed to outpace <br />and overwhelm our schools' capacity to provide high quality <br />education. <br />RON WEBER stated he has been building homes in Chapel Hill <br />for ten years. The price of housing has increased drastically <br />over the last two years because of lumber costs. Although the <br />target of school impact fees is new residents, it is actually <br />affecting everyone who builds a home. He feels the Board of County <br />Commissioners need a broad-based plan. The current proposal is <br />the easiest but not adequate or fair. He feels there must be a <br />better way. <br />HARVEY GOLDSTEIN, President of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro PTA, <br />stated that the PTA fully supports an increase in the impact fee. <br />They do not believe that $1,500 comes close to the average cost <br />each additional housing unit imposes on school capital facilities, <br />especially in the southern half of the County. Hopefully, the <br />study being conducted will yield a more accurate estimate of these <br />costs. They continue to support a sliding scale so the fee does <br />not have an adverse impact on affordable housing in the County. <br />He urged the Board of County Commissioners to vote to approve the <br />proposed increase for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro portion of the <br />County, even if the Orange County Schools do not support the <br />increase. This is justified by the explosion of residential <br />growth in the southern portion of the County and the strain it has <br />placed on education. <br />TERESA B. MCPHERSON-spoke against the proposed increase in <br />the school impact fee. She feels it penalizes the people who have <br />lived in the area all their life. She is a single head of <br />household with two children and little money. She wants a good <br />education for her children but she wants to be able to provide for <br />